The beginning of the men's soccer season is just days away, and the River States Conference is excited to preview the 2026 seasons for our member schools! Each RSC school talked with players and coaches from their teams, with those interviews linked below as part of Media Day!
Additionally, each school has spotlighted players expected to be major contributors during the 2026 campaign, and are also listed below as our 2026 Players to Watch!
BRESCIA
Media Day
Players to Watch
Santi Arruffat
Freshman | Evansville, Indiana | Midfielder
Arruffat is a transfer from the University of Southern Indiana. During his prep career, he was conference Player of the Year and Evansville Courier-Press Metro Player of the Year, in addition to earning third-team All-State, first-team All-District, first-team All-City, and first team All-Metro as a senior.
Roberto Elliot
Freshman | Panama City, Panama
Elliot will look to boost the Bearcats in his first season on campus, coming to Owensboro from Panama City, Panama.
IU COLUMBUS
Media Day
Players to Watch
Christian Cardoso
Junior | Columbus, Indiana | Midfielder
A third team All-Conference selection last year, Cardoso has started 35 matches across two seasons. The Columbus native has scored six goals and logged seven assists, good for 19 points.
Trent Schenk
Sophomore | Indianapolis, Indiana | Defender
Schenk started 14 games for the Crimson Pride last season, scoring a goal and assisting on two more from the defense position.
IU EAST
Media Day
Players to Watch
Noah Backhaus
Junior | Neuthard, Germany | Midfielder
Noah was an All-River States Conference third team performer in 2025 with four goals and two assists.
Filipe Godoi
Freshman | Columbus, Ohio | Midfielder
Filipe is an incoming freshman from Dublin Scioto High School.
KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN
Media Day
Players to Watch
Gage Bowling
Senior | Georgetown, Kentucky | Center Back
Gage has anchored the KCU defense for the past three seasons. As a senior captain, his leadership, toughness, and consistency have been instrumental to the team's success. Coaches are excited to watch him lead their back line one more season.
Jeremy Alig
Junior | Hebron, Kentucky | Midfielder
Jeremy is a junior captain and a crucial part of everything the Knights do in the midfield. His communication, vision, and ability to build the KCU attack make him a key leader on the field. Coaches are looking forward to another outstanding season from him.
MIDWAY
Media Day
Players to Watch
Rhys Dickson
Sophomore | Airdrie, Scotland | Midfielder
Dickson was a Second Team All-River States Conference selection in 2025, and a one-time RSC Offensive Player of the Week. The Scot started all 19 of Midway's games, scoring six goals and assisting on six more. His six assists ranked among the top five in the River States Conference.
George Spencer
Senior | Yeovil, England | Forward
In his first season on the roster, Spencer was a Third Team All-River States Conference selection at forward. The English forward led the Eagles in goals (7) and points (19) during his junior season, scoring five of his seven goals in conference play.
RIO GRANDE
Media Day
Players to Watch
Nahuel Coppiz
Sophomore | Brinkmann Cordoba, Argentina | Midfielder
Coppiz was a First Team All-River States Conference selection as a midfielder during his freshman season. The Argentine midfielder started 14 of the team's 20 matches, including all three of the team's postseason matches. He scored two goals and assisted on three more.
Facundo Rossich
Sophomore | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Forward
Rossich made an immediate impact for the RedStorm during his freshman season, leading Rio Grande with 15 goals. Rossich was responsible for five game-winning goals during the season, including four in conference play, and scored Rio's goal in the RSC Tournament final. He earned selection as a First Team All-Conference forward.
ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS
Media Day
Players to Watch
Ivan Gelado Chavala
Junior | Toledo, Spain | Striker
Gelado Chavala returns after a productive 2025 season in which he appeared in 18 matches with 14 starts and totaled 20 points on eight goals and four assists. After putting 25 of his 34 shots on goal, he gives the Pomeroys an experienced and proven attacking threat heading into the 2026 season.
Franco Mauri
Sophomore | Rivadavia, Argentina | Right Back
Mauri made an immediate impact in 2025, appearing in 19 matches with 16 starts and logging 1,314 minutes while contributing three goals and one assist from the back line. He returns in 2026 with a full season of experience and provides the Pomeroys with an attacking presence from the right-back position.
WVU TECH
Media Day
Players to Watch
Joost Hermeling
Junior | Rastede, Germany | Forward
Hermeling comes to the Golden Bears from Pima Community College, where he scored seven goals and assisted on another for the Aztecs last season. Before Pima, the German played one season at Bethany College in Kansas.
Gonzalo Sabeh
Sophomore | Yerba Buena, Tucuman, Argentina | Midfielder/Forward
Sabeh was a First Team All-River States Conference selection for the national runners-up last season. As a freshman, Sabeh was a major playmaker, leading WVU Tech with ten assists, including assists in national tournament games against Madonna and Indiana Tech. He also scored four goals on the season, finishing with 18 points.